-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- That is my question today . Are you involved in your kid 's school ? If so , how much ? As a new mom in the district , I 'm being pitched pretty hard by the PTA . And as a chronic joiner/doer/over committer , I 'm intrigued . But I 'm also wary .

Alex has been in school for a week now . On Monday I went to a breakfast put on by the PTA -- I mostly went just to check it out -LRB- and to avoid my deadline -RRB- but I wound up signing up for six or seven committees . Ack ! Many of these `` committees '' are really just one event that you might help with -- a Mother 's Day plant sale , say -- so it 's not that crazy . Right ?

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A form also came home in Alex 's kindergarten folder to sign up to be the class mom . I remember my mom being the class mom a lot and I loved the security it gave me to know she was so entrenched in the system . She knew the teachers , she knew the other moms , the kids , the school . She was also the CCD teacher , the Girl Scout leader , the carpool driver and pretty much everything else you 'd find under the overarching title of Kick-Ass Stay-At-Home-Mom . I do n't have the time or desire to be that much of a super mom -LRB- for now -RRB- , but I do want to be involved . And the PTA seems like a no-brainer , right ?

That said , I worry about taking on more than I can handle . I 'm still feeling the after-effects of my all-encompassing -LRB- and beyond worth it -RRB- LLS campaign and have already signed up to be a big part of that event again this year . -LRB- I 'm posting this blog from a café in NYC where I 'm spending the day at LLS meetings among other things -RRB- . My work with the organization is hugely important to me . As is my writing career . And my -LRB- limited -RRB- free time .

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I try not to do anything half assed but I also have a tendency to not say no enough . At all . And so I over commit and then I feel overwhelmed and I hate to feel overwhelmed . Or do I love it ? I can never quite tell . Sometimes I think I 'm only good at any one thing when I 'm doing 12 things . But back to the PTA . Are you involved in yours ? What 's your experience been like ? Is it anything like you see in the movies with cliques and mean-girl behavior ? Are there the Claire Dunphys ?

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Bottom line is this : One of the main reasons I left the full-time , editor-at-a-magazine -LRB- with benefits and health insurance -RRB- world years ago is so that I would be able to have an active role in my kids ' day-to-day lives . And , ultimately , their schooling .

So I figure I better get started now . A new friend at the bus stop gave me good advice , which was to sign up for the PTA activities that get you face time with your kid -- working an event that the kindergarteners will attend , for example , as opposed to something for the older students . Kids get a kick out of seeing their parents at school , right ? And also to do things that get you face time with the teacher -- staff appreciation , for example -- because , well , that one is self explanatory , especially given my worries about Alex 's pain in the ass-ness .

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I signed up for several different committees -LRB- including something having to do with gardening and one about recycling , which are both in my wheelhouse -RRB- and I figure I 'll dabble for a bit , get to see what it 's all about and then go from there . It 's only week one of about 18 years of schooling so I have time .

Are you involved in the PTA ? When did you get involved and what 's your experience been like ? Would love to hear your thoughts and any advice !

Please share your experience in the comments section below .

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Parents who over commit may be tempted to join too many PTA committees

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Some crave an active role in their kids ' lives but soon get overwhelmed

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One solution is to sign up for PTA activities that allow you to interact with your child